Two Ground Cables?
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Two Ground Cables?
I thought I had seen something about this somewhere, but couldn't find it again. Anyway, to make a long story short, my dad handed me down a '76 F-100 Ranger that had been sitting for a few years. I really don't know much about it to be honest. I don't know the engine size or horsepower, or even what grade oil to put in. I know its V8 by looking at it, and that its a step-side, but thats about it. Well, since it had no battery in it when I got it, I decided this past weekend to go get one and put it in. When I finally got the hood up, I noticed that there were three battery cables. One was the positive going to the starter silenoid, then there were two negative cables. Both had bettery terminals on the ends, but one was grounded way underneath at the bottom of the engine block and the other grounded up near the top sort of directly in front of the radiator, but on the engine as well. Does anyone know why there would be two negative cables? Theres no way in hell I can attach them both to the negative post on the battery. Can I just use one or the other? I've never seen this before, so any advice would be much appreciated.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Stanley, VA
There should only be one battery ground and it should go to the block. Usually the ground goes to an area behind the alternator, directly to the block itself.
Check the cables for condition and be sure the ends are clean and tight at the battery and the connections at the block, solenoid and starter are also clean and tight.
If there is any question as to the condition of the cables it's better to replace them.
Use the heaviest gauge cable (copper only, no aluminum) you can find. On wire, the lower the gauge number, the heavier the cable, #4 is heavier than #6, #0 is heavier than #4, etc.
It also wouldn't be a bad idea to add a ground cable from the frame to the block also. A lot of electrical problems on these trucks can be traced to bad grounds. I ran one on mine from one of the starter mounting bolts to a hole already in the frame.
Check the cables for condition and be sure the ends are clean and tight at the battery and the connections at the block, solenoid and starter are also clean and tight.
If there is any question as to the condition of the cables it's better to replace them.
Use the heaviest gauge cable (copper only, no aluminum) you can find. On wire, the lower the gauge number, the heavier the cable, #4 is heavier than #6, #0 is heavier than #4, etc.
It also wouldn't be a bad idea to add a ground cable from the frame to the block also. A lot of electrical problems on these trucks can be traced to bad grounds. I ran one on mine from one of the starter mounting bolts to a hole already in the frame.
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Got it, thanks! Maybe the extra ground cable was going to the frame or something, but it wasn't connected, not to mention it had a battery terminal on the end. I think what I'll do is take the battery terminal off of it and just find somewhere to connect it to the frame. Thanks again for the info. Any ideas on how I might find out the size of the engine, other than taking it apart of course?
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
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From: Costa Mesa, CA
If you post a pic of it here guys should be able to tell you what you have.
As for the grounds - go to the autoparts store and grab a couple of the flat, braided ground straps. They are maybe $5 each or so. Do one from the block to the frame & one from the cab to the frame. Make sure to clean the area where the ground will be attached with a wire brush 1st so as to ensure good contact. I'd then cover the part of the bolt that sticks out & the part of the frame or body where the plant was removed with di-electric grease.
As for the grounds - go to the autoparts store and grab a couple of the flat, braided ground straps. They are maybe $5 each or so. Do one from the block to the frame & one from the cab to the frame. Make sure to clean the area where the ground will be attached with a wire brush 1st so as to ensure good contact. I'd then cover the part of the bolt that sticks out & the part of the frame or body where the plant was removed with di-electric grease.
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step side, flare side, yadda yadda
Josh
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Lead Driver
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Good to know I'm not the only one sick of the "proper name" BS
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Thanks for the tips everyone. I will definitely look into this and put an extra ground in somewhere. I would post pics but all I have are shots of the engine bay (which looks like crap right now), and I can't figure out how to get them on here anyway. I guess I'd have to fill in the info on my garage? Oh well, I'll get them on here somehow. I've gotta replace the starter silenoid next as I've found that there is electrical current going in, but nothing coming out of it. This is definitely a work in progress...
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